A lot of Republicans are worried about the dangerous precedent Trump could set with a national emergency declaration for the border wall

A number of Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns about the ramifications of President Donald Trump declaring a national emergency to fund his border wall.
"If today, the national emergency is border security... tomorrow the national emergency might be climate change," Republican Sen. Marco Rubio said on Wednesday.
GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley said, "I don't think he should do that. I think it's a bad precedent. And it contravenes the power of the purse that comes from the elected representatives of the people."
As president, Trump has the option of declaring a national emergency, but...Read more ...

As Trump Considers a Wall ‘Emergency,' Here's What It Means

U.S. President Donald Trump says he “absolutely” has the authority to declare a national emergency as a way of achieving his promise to build a wall along the border with Mexico. That's one way he could try to end the budget standoff that has led to a lengthy government shutdown without abandoning a project he made the centerpiece of his campaign. Opposition Democrats, who have refused to authorize the billions needed for the wall, say he's wrong.Read more ...

Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló hit President Donald Trump over his talk of using disaster funds to pay for the US-Mexico wall.
Trump is reportedly planning on using disaster funding, allocated for areas hit by hurricanes such as Puerto Rico and Texas, for the wall.
Rosselló tweeted that there is “no justification” for US disaster relief funds to be taken from Americans trying to rebuild their communities.
Governor Ricardo Rosselló or Puerto Rico didn't hold back on Friday when he hit Donald Trump for his reported plan to use disaster funds to pay for the US-Mexico wall.
"No wall...Read more ...

Rudy Giuliani doubles down on his dubious claim that the White House should be able to review and correct Mueller's report before it's released

President Donald Trump's lead defense lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, doubled down Friday on his earlier claim that the White House should get to review and edit the special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian election interference before it's released to Congress or the public.
Giuliani first made the claim in a September interview with INSIDER, arguing that the information in the report is all protected by executive privilege and thus needs a sign-off from the White House before the public can see it.
On Friday, Giuliani told The Hill, "As a matter of fairness, they should show it to you...Read more ...

Mattis reportedly told Trump before he resigned that a national emergency was the most realistic option to get the wall and the Pentagon could help build it

Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis reportedly told President Donald Trump that declaring a national emergency was the most realistic way to build the wall along the southern border.
He told Trump the Pentagon would be able to help, according to The Wall Street Journal.
A national emergency declaration has become an increasingly likely option for Trump, as a government shutdown stretches into its 21st day.
Congressional Democrats have refused to supply Trump's requested $5.7 billion in wall funding, and Trump has refused to back down on his demands for a physical barrier.
Former Defense...Read more ...